Receptacle device

ABSTRACT

A receptacle device comprising a body providing a chamber for storing refuse therein, an opening at the top of said body for receiving refuse into the chamber of said body, an opening at its bottom for removal of refuse from the chamber of said body, and a bottom member hingedly secured with the body for pivotal movement between a first closed terminal position and a second open terminal position, said member enclosing the opening in the bottom of said body when it is in its closed terminal position for retaining refuse in the chamber of said body, and exposing the opening in the bottom of said body for allowing the removal of the refuse stored in the chamber of said body through said opening in its body when in its open terminal position, and including a plurality of elements at its bottom for engaging said member and guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions.

United States Patent Lewis 5] Feb.8,1972

[54] RECEPTACLE DEVICE [211 Appl. No.: 848,018

[52] US. Cl... ..232/43.l, 232/44 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65f H00 [58] FieldofSearch ..232/431,53,44, 57,4D, 27,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,349,947 10/ 1967 Zumwalt ..220/33 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-Jacob Trachtman- [57] ABSTRACT A receptacle device comprising a body providing a chamber for storing refuse therein, an opening at the top of said body for receiving refuse into the chamber of said body, an opening at its bottom for removal of refuse from the chamber of said body, and a bottom member hingedly secured with the body for pivotal movement between a first closed terminal position and a second open terminal position, said member enclosing the opening in the bottom of said body when it is in its closed terminal position for retaining refuse in the chamber of said body, and exposing the opening in the bottom of said body for allowing the removal of the refuse stored in the chamber of said body through said opening in its body when in its open terminal position, and including a plurality of elements at its bottom for engaging said member and guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 8 I972 INVENTOR.

UNFORD H. LEWIS BY ATTORNEY.

RECEPTACLE DEVICE The invention relates to a receptacle device, more particularly to a receptacle device for receiving refuse and having a hinged bottom plate for pivotal movement between closed and open terminal positions.

Heretofore, receptacle devices have been provided for receiving refuse, and some such devices have provided removable bottoms for emptying such receptacles of accumulated refuse. However, such devices have not provided a receptacle device with a bottom plate which is hingedly secured and may readily be pivoted in a horizontal plane between opened and closed positions while a container is proximately positioned thereunder for receiving the stored refuse.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a receptacle device which is suitable for being positioned in various locations for receiving refuse, and which may readily be emptied through its bottom by pivotally moving its bottom plate, but without requiring the removal and replacement of any element to accomplish this.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved receptacle device which may be readily and inexpensively fabricated and is highly durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved receptacle device which requires a minimum of time for operation during removal of refuse, and may be locked to prevent unauthorized operation.

The above objects of the invention are achieved by providing a receptacle device comprising a body providing a chamber therein for storing refuse, an opening at the top of said body for receiving refuse into the chamber of said body, and an opening at its bottom for the removal of refuse from the chamber of said body. Said device is provided with a bottom member hingedly secured with said body for pivotal movement between a first closed terminal position and a second open terminal position, said member enclosing the opening in the bottom of said body when it is in its closed terminal position for retaining refuse in the chamber of said body and exposing the opening in the bottom of said body for allowing the removal of refuse stored in the chamber of said body through said opening in its bottom when in its open terminal position. The body has vertical sidewalls providing a horizontal opening at its bottom, and the said member has a horizontal plate hinged with said body to move in a horizontal plane between said terminal positions proximate to the horizontal opening at the bottom of the body. A plurality of elements are provided at the bottom of the device for engaging the member and guiding and positioning the member as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

' FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle device embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. I, showing the receptacle device with its bottom member in an open position, and portions of the top of the body broken away,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the receptacle device with portions broken away.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 disclose a receptacle device embodying the invention. The device 10 comprises a body 12 having front and rear vertical walls 14 and 16 of rectangular configuration joined by vertical sidewalls 18 and 20. The device may preferably be formed of sheet material which is preferably sheet metal. A pair of ledges 22 and 24 extend downwardly and inwardly from and along the top edges 26 and 28 respectively of the front and rear walls 14 and 16 to form a top opening 30 of the body 12 for receiving refuse into the chamber 32 within the body 12.

The bottom horizontal edges 34 and 36 respectively of the front and rear walls 14 and 16, and the bottom horizontal edges 38 and 40 respectively of the sidewalls l8 and 20 form a rectangular bottom opening 42 of the body 12.

A member 44 comprises a horizontal rectangular plate 45 having front and rear edges 46, 48 and side edges 50, 52 and top and bottom surfaces 54 and 56 (see FIG.2). The plate 45 at its front edge 46 has a vertical ledge 58 extending upwardly therealong. The first end 60 of the ledge 58 is secured by a hinge 62 with the sidewall 20 for pivoting the member 44 about a vertical axis for movement in a horizontal plane between a first closed terminal position and second open terminal position. The member 44 is shown in its closed terminal position in FIG. 1, while it is shown open in FIG. 2.

A plurality of elements 64, 66 and 68 are provided for engaging the plate 45 of said member 44 and guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions. Elements 64 and 66 are elongated, each having a first end 70 secured with the rear wall 16 of the body 12, and a portion 72 extending below the opening 42 of the body 12 and parallel to each other and to the bottom horizontal edges 38, 40 of the sidewall 18, 20. The second ends 74 of each of the elements 64, 66 proximate to the bottom edge 34 of the front wall of the body 12. The portions 72 are substantially horizontal, extending slightly downward in the direction towards their free ends 74, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3. The element 68 is also provided with an end 70 which is secured to the rear wall 16 and has a portion 76 which extends parallel to the portions 72 of the elements 64 and 66. The portion 76 of the element 68 is shorter than the corresponding portion 72 of the elements 64 and 66 so as not to extend across the opening 42 at the bottom of the body 12. The element 68 is positioned substantially intermediate the elements 64 and 66 and its portion 76 also slopes slightly downwardly from the horizontal plane towards its free end 78 as is also shown in FIG. 3.

The ledge 58 of the member 44 is provided at its end 80, opposite its hinged end 60, with locking means 82 for engaging its locking counterpart 84 in the front wall 14 of the body 12 for securing the member 44 in its closed position and preventing operation by unauthorized persons.

For the purpose of securing the receptacle device to a supporting means or standard, such as the utility poles and other such structures commonly found within a city or along a roadway, a pair of metal bands 86 are provided each of which passes through a pair of slots 88 in the rear wall 16 of the device 12 and is adapted to encompass a standard such as a pole 90 for securing same thereto. A vertically extending metal strip 92 may preferably be provided which is secured along the inside surface of the rear wall 16 through which the slots 88 extend and provide a reinforced means for attaching the receptacle device 10 with a pole 90. The strip 92 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has an end portion 94 which extends inwardly and downwardly over the extending portion 76 of the element 68.

The device 10, in operation, may be secured in a desired location and at a desirable elevation by affixing the band 86 about a standard or pole 90. Refuse may be discarded by depositing same in the device 10 through the opening 30 while its member 44 is in its closed or locked position as shown in FIG. 1. Periodically, the refuse stored in the receptacle 10 may be removed by authorized personnel by inserting a key 92 into the lock 82 and moving the member 44 from its closed position into its open position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The plate 45 may be swung completely clear of the opening 42 in the bottom of the receptacle device 12, whereby the refuse contained therein falls downwardly into a container positioned thereunder for that purpose. The member 44 may then be pivoted about its hinge 62 into its closed position and locked for use as before in receiving and storing refuse.

Since the member 44 is permanently hinged with the body 12 and is not detachable, it can not be removed and does not require replacement, but may be readily moved back into its closed position, thereby avoiding loss, damage or difficulty in replacement of same, which may occur in the case of devices with removable bottoms. Since the plate 45 moves horizontally past the bottom horizontal edge 34 of the front wall, refuse is not permitted to remain upon its top surface 54 and is caused to fall into the container held under the opening 42 of the body 12. The horizontal movement of the member 44 prevents interference with the container held under the opening 42 and also allows the container to be held immediately below such opening, assuring the receipt of the refuse therein.

In operation of moving the member 44 from its open to closed position, the elements 64, 66 and 68 act to engage the member 44 at the bottom surface 56 of the plate 45 for guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved into its closed position. Thus the element 66 first engages the bottom surface 56 of the plate 45 at its side edge 52, while the element 64 first engages the bottom surface 56 of the plate 45 at its rear edge 48 as the member 44 moves from its open toward its closed terminal position. The element 68 also engages the bottom surface 56 of the plate 45 at the rear edge 48 as the member 44 moves into its closed terminal position. The portions 72 and 76 respectively of the elements 64, 66 and element 68 by sloping slightly downward with the horizontal plane toward their free ends provide a camming action which guides the member for tightly securing and positioning the plate 45 over the bottom opening 42 of the body 12 when it is moved into its closed terminal position as shown in FIG. 1.

The manner in which the elements are secured at their ends 70 and extend freely in the direction of their other ends, provides an arrangement whereby any possible jamming action of litter during the closing of the member 44 is minimized, since such litter may readily be displaced by the edges of the plate 44 in their movement toward their closed position due to the openings provided between the vertical walls of the body 12 and the elements. To avoid litter striking and being retained by the extending portion 76 of the element 68, the sloped end portion 94 of the reinforcing strip 92 overlies the element 68 and acts to deflect refuse away from that element.

Refer to FIG. 4 which is a perspective view with portions broken away of a receptacle device constituting a modification of the receptacle device 10. The structure of the device 10 is substantially similar to that of the device 10 except that the element 98 has an extension which is less than that of the corresponding element 64 of the device 10, while the element 100 is provided with an end 102 which is secured with the sidewall of the body 12' and a portion 104 extending proximate the rear wall 16 at its lower edge 36' with its free end 106 directed toward the sidewall 32' of the body 12'.

The device 10' operates in a similar manner to that of the device 10 and the elements 98 and 100 which also slope slightly downward from the horizontal plane toward their free ends, act to provide a camming action for tightly securing and supporting the plate 45' of the member 44 when moved toward and into its closed position by first engaging the surface 56' respectively over the rear edge 48' and the side edge 52' of the plate 45'. The structure of the device 10' also provides the advantages noted above in connection with the device 10.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may find wide application with appropriate modification to meet the individual design circumstances, but without substantial departure from the essence of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A receptacle device comprising a body providing a chamber for storing refuse therein, an opening at the top of said body for receiving refuse into the chamber of said body, and an opening at its bottom for the removal of refuse from the chamber of said body; a bottom member hingedly secured with said body for pivotal movement between a first closed terminal position and a second open terminal position; said member enclosing the opening in the bottom of said body when it is in its closed terminal position for retaining refuse in the chamber of said body and exposing the opening in the bottom of said body for allowing the removal of refuse stored in the chamber of said body through said opening in its bottom when in its open terminal position; and a plurality of elements at the bottom of said body for engaging said member and guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions; said body having a pair of spaced vertical front and rear walls of rectangular configuration joined by a pair of spaced vertical first and second sidewalls of rectangular configuration providing a rectangular horizontal opening at the bottom of said body; said member comprising a substantially rectangular horizontal plate with top and bottom surfaces and front, rear and first and second side edges, and a vertical front ledge extending upwardly from and along the front edge of said plate and having a first end hinged with said body for movement about a vertical axis to pivot the plate of said member for movement in a horizontal plane between said terminal positions proximate to the horizontal opening at the bottom of said body.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said elements are elongated in form having a first end secured with said body and a free end extending substantially horizontally below the bottom opening of said body for engaging and supporting the bottom surface of the plate of said member and guiding its movement between said terminal positions.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said elements include a pair of parallel elements each positioned proximate to a respective sidewall of said body and extending from the rear wall toward the front wall of said body with the free ends of said elements proximate to the front wall, one of said elements first engaging the bottom surface of said plate at a side edge while the other element first engages the bottom surface of said plate at its rear edge as said member moves from its said open terminal position to its said closed terminal position, said elements extending slightly downward to the horizontal plane in the direction toward their free ends to provide a camming action for tightly securing and supporting said plate over the bottom opening of said body when it is moved from its open into its closed terminal position.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said elements include a third element positioned between and parallel to said pair of elements, said third element having an end secured with said rear wall and a free end extending part way toward the front wall of said body below the bottom opening of said body, said third element engaging the bottom of the plate of said member at its rear edge intermediate its side edges for guiding and supporting said plate into enclosing position over the bottom opening of said body when said member is moved into its closed second terminal position.

5. The device of claim 4 including a vertical reinforcing strip secured with and extending vertical along the inside surface of the rear wall of said body, the bottom end of said strip extending inwardly and downwardly over the third element of said elements, whereby refuse when being removed from said body through its bottom opening is deflected from striking and being retained by said third element, and band means for securing said body with a standard for supporting said device.

6. The device of claim 2 in which said member is hinged proximate to the first sidewall of said body, and said elements include a first element having its first end secured with the first sidewall of said body and extending proximate the rear wall with its free end directed toward the second sidewall of said body, and a second element having its first end secured with the rear wall of said body and extending proximate the second sidewall with its free end directed toward the front wall of said body, said first element first engaging the bottom surface of said plate at its first side edge while the second element first engages the bottom surface of said plate at its rear edge as said member moves from its said open terminal position to its said closed terminal position, said elements extending slightly downward to the horizontal plane in the direction toward their free ends to provide a camming action for tightly securing and supporting said plate over the bottom opening of said body when it is moved from its open into its closed terminal position.

7. The device of claim 11 including lock means supported at the second end of the ledge of said member opposite its hinged end for engaging said body and locking said member in its closed terminal position. 

1. A receptacle device comprising a body providing a chamber for storing refuse therein, an opening at the top of said body for receiving refuse into the chamber of said body, and an opening at its bottom for the removal of refuse from the chamber of said body; a bottom member hingedly secured with said body for pivotal movement between a first closed terminal position and a second open terminal position; said member enclosing the opening in the bottom of said body when it is in its closed terminal position for retaining refuse in the chamber of said body and exposing the opening in the bottom of said body for allowing the removal of refuse stored in the chamber of said body through said opening in its bottom when in its open terminal position; and a plurality of elements at the bottom of said body for engaging said member and guiding and positioning same as it is pivotally moved between its terminal positions; said body having a pair of spaced vertical front and rear walls of rectangular configuration joined by a pair of spaced vertical first and second sidewalls of rectangular configuration providing a rectangular horizontal opening at the bottom of said body; said member comprising a substantially rectangular horizontal plate with top and bottom surfaces and front, rear and first and second side edges, and a vertical front ledge extending upwardly from and along the front edge of said plate and having a first end hinged with said body for movement about a vertical axis to pivot the plate of said member for movement in a horizontal plane between said terminal positions proximate to the horizontal opening at the bottom of said body.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said elements are elongated in form having a first end secured with said body and a free end extending substantially horizontally below the bottom opening of said body for engaging and supporting the bottom surface of the plate of said member and guiding its movement between said terminal positions.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which said elements include a pair of parallel elements each positioned proximate to a respective sidewall of said body and extending from the rear wall toward the front wall of said body with the free ends of said elements proximate to the front wall, one of said elements first engaging the bottom surface of said plate at a side edge while the other element first engages the bottom surface of said plate at its rear edge as said member moves from its said open terminal posiTion to its said closed terminal position, said elements extending slightly downward to the horizontal plane in the direction toward their free ends to provide a camming action for tightly securing and supporting said plate over the bottom opening of said body when it is moved from its open into its closed terminal position.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said elements include a third element positioned between and parallel to said pair of elements, said third element having an end secured with said rear wall and a free end extending part way toward the front wall of said body below the bottom opening of said body, said third element engaging the bottom of the plate of said member at its rear edge intermediate its side edges for guiding and supporting said plate into enclosing position over the bottom opening of said body when said member is moved into its closed second terminal position.
 5. The device of claim 4 including a vertical reinforcing strip secured with and extending vertical along the inside surface of the rear wall of said body, the bottom end of said strip extending inwardly and downwardly over the third element of said elements, whereby refuse when being removed from said body through its bottom opening is deflected from striking and being retained by said third element, and band means for securing said body with a standard for supporting said device.
 6. The device of claim 2 in which said member is hinged proximate to the first sidewall of said body, and said elements include a first element having its first end secured with the first sidewall of said body and extending proximate the rear wall with its free end directed toward the second sidewall of said body, and a second element having its first end secured with the rear wall of said body and extending proximate the second sidewall with its free end directed toward the front wall of said body, said first element first engaging the bottom surface of said plate at its first side edge while the second element first engages the bottom surface of said plate at its rear edge as said member moves from its said open terminal position to its said closed terminal position, said elements extending slightly downward to the horizontal plane in the direction toward their free ends to provide a camming action for tightly securing and supporting said plate over the bottom opening of said body when it is moved from its open into its closed terminal position.
 7. The device of claim 11 including lock means supported at the second end of the ledge of said member opposite its hinged end for engaging said body and locking said member in its closed terminal position. 